Rotary reduced speed power transmission



March 14, 1950 G. E. CONWAY ROTARY REDUCED SPEED POWER TRANSMISSION Filed Feb. 3, 1948 IN VEN TOR. gap/ya E. fa'mw littorwey Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY REDUCED SPEED POWER TRANSMISSION 2 Claims.

This invention relates to speed reducing power transmission aparatus for providing a slow speed rotary drive, and more particularly is directed to an improved unitary compact take-off power transmission having power rotary drive of relatively slow speed reduced from a higher speed rotary driving power source.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described which shall comprise few and simple parts that are easily assembled to form a unitary compact rugged construction, which can be readily installed in limited power transmission space such as may be required for conveying and elevating machinery, which shall require a minimum of maintenance service, which shall be capable of providing a relatively wide range of speed reduction ratios, which shall be conveniently adaptable for various types and sizes of take-off drives such for example, as belt or cable pulleys, chain sprockets, or the like, and which shall be eflicient and practical to a high degree lnuse.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of the application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown varlious illustrated embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view taken through an improved rotary power transmission apparatus constructed to embody the invention having a take-off drive of relatively slow speed reduced from a higher speed driving power source, as for example, a driving pulley shown.

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 22 and 33 in Fig. 1, respectively, showing the construction of the interior assembly, Fig. 3 showing in detail a pawl and circular ratchet one-way rotation limiting feature, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views showing the chain sprocket and sheave or grooved cable pulley power take-off constructions, respectively, which can conveniently replace the belt pulley structure of the take-off drive shown in Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l0 denotes an improved rotary power transmission appara-' tus constructed to embody the invention having a suitable rotary power drive such as any conventional type of prime mover power source, for example, an electric motor, gas engine or the like, (not shown) or driving pulley H rotated by such prime mover and mounted to turn a horizontally disposed power shaft l2, the latter being normally rotated at a relatively high speed. In aparatus I0 constructed as shown in Fig; 1, a relatively slow speed take-off belt pulley I3 may be utilized to operate conveying 0r elevating machinery, of any well understood construction (not shown), or for other purposes requiring a relatively slower speed than the normal rotary speed provided by said power sourcethrough driving pulle H and power shaft 52. To this end there is provided, a pair of spaced bearing blocks l4, rigidly supported on a suitable foundation, such as structural steel I-beams [5 to which blocks M are bolted as at l6. Mounted to extend horizontally between said blocks hi there is provided an elongated sectionalized sleeve or hollow stationary shaft ll, sections Ila and Ilb of which when disassembled split said sleeve shaft ll at flanged portions midway from the ends thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said flanged portions are rigidly secured together by spaced apart con necting bolts l8 to provide a continuous spanning structure with the power shaft 12 eXtending through section Ila, and driving pulley ll positioned to overhang on outer end 12a of said shaft l2 just beyond bearing block Hi. Sleev shaft ll is held as a rigid unit against rotation by any suitable means, such as, set bolts 19 clamping the opposite outer ends of said sections Ila and llb in fitted position to bearing blocks l4.

Pulley l3 may be formed of identical halves [3a, and is rotatably mounted by means of 2. casing or shell structure 2! on sleeve shaft ll be-.

tween the spaced bearing blocks M, said pulley l3 and casing structure 2| being driven from power shaft l2 through'suitable sets of a gear transmission 20 housed within said casing structure 2|. The latter may be a two-part construction 21a and 2lb, each provided with suitable anti-friction liner bearings 22 spaced apart in the assembly to serve as journals for said rota. tion with said pulley l3 on sleeve shaft ll. Said liner bearings 22, when of the type shown in Fig.- 1, each may be lubricated in any well under stood manner as by means of greas cup 23.

Opposite free ends llc of the sections of sta tionary sleeve shaft ll may be of circular cross section machined fitted to liner bearings 22 and bearing blocks l4, integrally formed radial outwardly projecting thrust shoulders lllc being pro vided inwardly of said ends Ho and positioned within casing structure 2I as positive alignment means of said casing structure 2I with respect to said sleeve shaft I! in the assembled apparatus II] as shown in Fig. 1.

Integrally formed as part of sleeve shaft sections IIa and Ill) are radially extending complementary bearing block lugs I'Id and He, respectively, said lugs I'Id and [1e being spaced apart to receive therebetween an intermediate driven gear 25, each of said lugs I'Id and He being provided with a suitable anti-friction liner bearing I1f in which a shaft 24 is journalled to turn with said intermediate driven gear 25 mounted thereon. Also mounted to turn with gear shaft 24, in an overhanging position beyond lug He, is an intermediate drive gear 25a which meshes with an internal ring gear 26, the latter being rigid to an annular seat 2Ic integrally formed on the interior side of easing part 2 lb concentrically positioned with relation to said liner bearings 22.

The intermittent driven gear 25, is positioned to mesh with a drive gear 21 which is keyed to run with the power shaft E2, the latter having inner end I2b thereof journalled in a suitable roller thrust bearing 28 seated within sleeve shaft section HD in a midportion of sleeve IT. The other end portion I2a. of power shaft l2 inward of pulley H may also be journalled in a ball bearing 28a seated in bearing block I4, as shown in Fig. 1.

Casing structure sections 25a and 2Ib as seen in Fig. 1, are conical shaped and are provided on abutting ends thereof with mating peripherally extending outturned flanges 2501 which through spaced apart bolts 29 are rigidly secured together by clamping between interiorly extending ring flanges I3b of the split pulley halves I3a, said assembly casing structure serving as a hub for take-off'drive pulley I3.

To lubricate the gear transmission 20 within the casing structure 2| there may be provided a stationary pipe line 30 installed to extend horizontally through sleeve shaft section Ill) and through bearing block I4 tothe exterior there of for connecting with a convenient oil supply source, such as oil cup 3|. The sleeve shaft section I Ib inside of easing structure 2I may be made with a suitable outlet opening I'Ig to permit dripping of a lubricant from pipe line 30 within sleeve section I'lb into the casing struc-,- ture 2I to reach the gear transmission 20. Said casing structure 2| thus forms a complete enclosure lubricating reservoir for said gear transmission 20 mounted to rotate with the driving pulley I3 onthe sleeve shaft H as clear from Fig. 1. A suitable overflow hole and plug 2 le may be provided in casing structure 2'I for servicing the lubrication therein.

The practical operation of invention will now be apparent. With apparatus constructed as above described and assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rotary powerapplied to drive pulley i I at a relatively high available speed, turns power shaft I2 which through the gearing transmission 20 "above described rotates casing structure 2I carrying pulley I3 at a relatively lower speed at a range of more than 60 to 1 ratio speed .reduction if desired. Not only can the relative diameter sizes of pulleys II and I3 be varied but also the gear reduction ratio of transmission 20 Within the casing structure 2 I. The hollow sleeve section I'Ib may be provided with an offset portion I 'Ih to provide suificient clearance for proportionally larger drive gears than' drive gear 21,

4 said offset portion I1h also serving as an oil well for the gears of said transmission 20, shown in Fig. 1.

As frequently happens, apparatus I 0 must be limited to have pulley I3 positively rotate in one direction only. The invention contemplates incorporating means to that end within the easing structure 2 I. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said directional rotary limiting means may comprise an annular toothed rack 33 which is secured by spaced bolts 34 to the interior side of the casing structure section 2 lb concentric with the axis of rotation of easing structure 25. Mounted on a projecting double arm fitting 35 from sleeve shaft section I'Ia. are spaced apart dogs or pawls 36 and 3-1, which are pivoted with stub shafts 35a and 31a, respectively, so that at least one of said pawls is always effective to engage with said rack 33 for preventing the casing structure 2I with pulley I3 from turning except in one direction, as for example as shown in Fig. 3. Said stub shafts 35a and 37a. may be journalled on opposite ends of each between arm 35a and 35b of fitting 35 on sleeve shaft section Ila as is clearly shown in Fig. l. Fitting 35 with arms 35a and 351) may be formed integrally with sleeve.

Lubrication is supplied to apparatus ill in the well understood manner through grease cups 23 and oil cup 3i and servicing can be conveniently and easily maintained by using overflow plug and hole 2 Ie.

As seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, because the construction of apparatus It? as described above with thecasing structure 2i and sleeve shaft I1 made in sections 2m, 2Ib and section I'Ia and Ilb, respectively, with said sleeve section Ila and I'll) secured together by bolts 18 and the casing struc ture sections Zia and .EIb by bolts 29, the latter also clamping pulley halves Iia in position, said apparatus IE3 can be easily assembled, taken apart for repairs or replacement, and reassembled r quiring a minimum of skill, and for disassembly in changing the speed reduction ratio of gearing transmission Zlienclosed in. the casing structure 2| without entirely dismantling said apparatus I0.

Apparatus It can also have the pulleys of relatively different diameter sizes with respect to pulleys i and I3 readily changed without disturbing the gearing transmission 20, pulley I I be ing removable in the well understood manner, and pulley It by removing and replacing clamping bolts 29.

Apparatus It may also have the take-01f drive in the form of a chain sprocket or cable groove pulley instead of belt; pulley I3. Where a reduced speed chain take-off drive is required pulley I3 may be replaced by sprocket H3 secured by bolts II9 as shown in Fig. 4. And Where a cable takeoff drive is desired the pulley I3 or sprocket H3 may be replaced by grooved pulley 2I3 secured in place by bolts 2 !9 as shown in Fig. 5. 1

It is, therefore, seen that there is provided an improved power transmission in which the several objects of the invention are achieved andwhich are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As-various other possible embodiments may be made in the above invention, and as various changes may be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

1. In a rotary reducing speed power transmission apparatus of the character described, an elongated hollow sleeve shaft sectionalized for disassembly splitting having mating flanges at a midportion thereof, means for releasably retaining said flanges together to make said sectionalized shaft provide a continuous rigid spanning structure whensupported at the ends thereof, spaced integrally formed thrust shoulders projecting radially outward from said shaft structure and inwardly of the ends thereof, and complementary spaced apart radially extending bearing block lugs formed as part of each section of the shaft structure for mounting therebetween a gear of a power transmission, one section of said shaft having a portion between the said flange and the thrust shoulder offset with respect to an axis of alignment of the hollow sleeve shaft to provide an oil well and clearance for a gear of said power transmission, a lubricating pipe extends into said last mentioned shaft section,

the latter having an opening communicating with the exterior of said section wherethrough a lubricant fed by said pipe passes.

27 In a rotary reducing speed power transmission apparatus, an elongated hollow shaft as defined in claim 1, in which the other section of said sleeve shaft includes an integrally formed double arm fitting for mounting parts of a rotary direction control means thereon.

GEORGE E. CONWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 982,077 Liaci et a1 Jan. 17, 1910 1,134,772 Sundh Apr. 6, 1915 1,836,225 Christensen Dec. 15, 1931 2,439,521 Miller Apr. 13, 1948 

